(this is MY OWN interpretation of the song!! this is probably not the actual meaning but it’s how i look at the song!!)
i see this song as someone embracing their sexuality and the fact that they are lgbtq+.
“True that I saw her hair like the branch of a tree
Willow dancing on air before covering me
Under garden and calicos
Over canopies that was long ago”
— they’re meeting someone and falling in love with their beauty.
True that love in withdrawal was the weeping of me
That the sound of the saw must be known by the tree
Must be felt 'fore the fight that calls
Threatened fire but that was long ago
— “love in withdrawal” represents the suppressed sexuality and therefore the lack of intimacy in their life. they weren’t able to be in love because they were hiding themselves away. the trees in this song represent their old life, when they were ‘in the closet’. now they realise that it’s time to move on from that life and accept themselves. they must destroy the ‘forest’ (their old life).
And it's not tonight (Ooh)
When I'm set alight (Ooh)
I'm blinking so (Ooh)
Your blinding light (Ooh)
Oh, let's not tonight (Ooh)
When you hold me tight (Ooh)
Light the fire bright (Ooh)
Let it blaze alright (Ooh)
Oh, hope that you're good to me
Oh you're good to me
Hope that you're good to me, baby
— the thrill of destroying this old life is passionately described in this verse. they’re embracing their beautiful sexuality and hoping that they’ll be treated right. the fire represents their new life, and their newly emboldened sexuality.
With the roar of the fire my heart goes to its feet
Like the ashes of ash I saw eyes in the heat
Sitting soft in this purest snow
Fell in love with the fire long ago
— this illustrates the relief of breaking through the closet doors and starting a new life. it’s uplifting and rejuvenating to watch the self conscious, scared side of you burn to ash.
Each love I could lose
I was never the same
Watch it's still living roots be consumed by the flames
I was fixed on your hand of gold
Laying waste to my loving long ago
— they’re moving on from their own life with they person they love, discarding their old way of loving. perhaps when they were suppressing their sexuality and trying to cover up their feelings for others. they’re realising that love is only rewarding when it’s genuine.
So you know there I stood
As you licked off the grain
Though I've handled the wood, I still worship the flame
Long as ember, November glows
All the wood that I'd loved is long ago
— they’re glad to see their old life perish. my favourite line is “though i’ve handled the wood i still worship the flame.” i feel like this line is saying that even though their old life may have pleased others, their new one pleases them. they’re happier and free. all the things they used to believe about themselves is in the past.
this is one of my favourite songs by hozier. the lyrics are so meaningful and can be interpreted in so many ways! his lyrics are so versatile and relatable to anyone.
(this is MY OWN interpretation of the song!! this is probably not the actual meaning but it’s how i look at the song!!)
i see this song as someone embracing their sexuality and the fact that they are lgbtq+.
“True that I saw her hair like the branch of a tree Willow dancing on air before covering me Under garden and calicos Over canopies that was long ago”
— they’re meeting someone and falling in love with their beauty.
True that love in withdrawal was the weeping of me That the sound of the saw must be known by the tree Must be felt 'fore the fight that calls Threatened fire but that was long ago
— “love in withdrawal” represents the suppressed sexuality and therefore the lack of intimacy in their life. they weren’t able to be in love because they were hiding themselves away. the trees in this song represent their old life, when they were ‘in the closet’. now they realise that it’s time to move on from that life and accept themselves. they must destroy the ‘forest’ (their old life).
And it's not tonight (Ooh) When I'm set alight (Ooh) I'm blinking so (Ooh) Your blinding light (Ooh) Oh, let's not tonight (Ooh) When you hold me tight (Ooh) Light the fire bright (Ooh) Let it blaze alright (Ooh) Oh, hope that you're good to me Oh you're good to me Hope that you're good to me, baby
— the thrill of destroying this old life is passionately described in this verse. they’re embracing their beautiful sexuality and hoping that they’ll be treated right. the fire represents their new life, and their newly emboldened sexuality.
With the roar of the fire my heart goes to its feet Like the ashes of ash I saw eyes in the heat Sitting soft in this purest snow Fell in love with the fire long ago
— this illustrates the relief of breaking through the closet doors and starting a new life. it’s uplifting and rejuvenating to watch the self conscious, scared side of you burn to ash.
Each love I could lose I was never the same Watch it's still living roots be consumed by the flames I was fixed on your hand of gold Laying waste to my loving long ago
— they’re moving on from their own life with they person they love, discarding their old way of loving. perhaps when they were suppressing their sexuality and trying to cover up their feelings for others. they’re realising that love is only rewarding when it’s genuine.
So you know there I stood As you licked off the grain Though I've handled the wood, I still worship the flame Long as ember, November glows All the wood that I'd loved is long ago
— they’re glad to see their old life perish. my favourite line is “though i’ve handled the wood i still worship the flame.” i feel like this line is saying that even though their old life may have pleased others, their new one pleases them. they’re happier and free. all the things they used to believe about themselves is in the past.
this is one of my favourite songs by hozier. the lyrics are so meaningful and can be interpreted in so many ways! his lyrics are so versatile and relatable to anyone.